IT is not difficult to fall for Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao. He is charming, friendly and really fun to be with. I, for one, like him as a person. People like me can easily identify with Pacquiao for I, too, came from the bottom of the heap.

I was able to finish high school through the kindness of the Congregation of the Immaculate Concepcion of Mary; went to college as a working student; enrolled in Letran College and De La Salle University when I had the money and the spare time; and earned my BS in journalism from the Lyceum of the Philippines much later in life. I pursued higher education (MBA) and graduated Benemeritus (magna cum laude) from Letran; and earned my DBA from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.